Hinge structure



June 18, 1968 w. KOZIOL 3,388,421

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed May 9. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Illu ill Inventor I 1'5 Walter Koyiol June 18, 1968 w, oz o 3,388,421

HINGE STRUCTURE Filed May 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Inventor Walter Ko jol "3 77444 a. 3mm

United States Patent 3,388,421 HINGE STRUCTURE Walter Koziol, Russell, Ill., assiguor to Charmglow Manufacturing Co., Antioch, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,653 Claims. (Cl. 16-471) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A two-part hinge structure having no hinge pin wherein an upper convex member pivots in a lower supporting concave member, the upper member carrying a flange to engage a stop surface to limit the opening of a cover and the concave member having an engagement surface for contact with another engagement surface on the upper member to prevent the upper member from closing by a dropping of the engagement surface on the convex member into contact with the engagement surface of the concave member.

This invention relates to a novel hinge structure. More particularly, this invention relates to a hinge and stop structure wherein a hinged member is freely removable in all positions from the stationary member.

Hinges without pintles in mating hinge plates so as to make the hinged member readily removable are common as evidenced by US. Patents 948,491 to Andreas et al, and 2,011,675 to R. L. Cawood. These prior art hinges do provide some degree of removability of the hinged lid member. However, it is often desirable in the type of hinges concerned within this invention to have means to prevent the hinged member from falling closed accidentally. Both of the previously indicated prior art devices do have means to prevent the hinged lid member from falling backward and though Andreas et al. do provide some means for preventing accidental frontward falling, it is only after a lateral shifting of the hinged member is effected. Further, there is not presently available a freely removable hinge structure which can be easily manufactured and still prevent accidental backward and frontward falling of the hinged member.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel hinge structure. It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel hinge structure wherein the hinged member is freely and readily removable from the stationary member. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a combined hinge and stop structure wherein the hinged member is freely carried by the stationary member and the accidental forward or backward falling of the hinge member is prevented. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel hinge and stop structure which is easily manufactured and does not require special machining of parts to assure proper adjustment or fitting.

The foregoing objects, and other objects which will be apparent from the following disclosure, are now accomplished by the present invention which is described in detail in the following description and illustrated in the attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a rear view of a barbecue unit in side elevation illustrating two of the novel hinge structures of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the same hinge structure with the hinged cover member in the open position.

FIGURE 4 is a view like FIGURE 2 except from the 3,388,421 Patented June 18, 1%68 opposite side of one of the hinges and taken along line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a view like FIGURE 3 but from the opposite side with the cover open, and not quite past vertical center.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the bearing surface of one of the novel hinge members shown in FIGURES 1-5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing the cover member with the engaging hinged member removed from the bearing surfaces of the base member.

FIGURE 8 is a view in vertical section taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 7 andslightly enlarged.

Basically, the novel hinge of the present invention is a combined hinge and stop structure for a hinged but freely removable cover member. A concave-like bearing portion is disposed in a base member, and an engagement surface is formed in the concave portion. A movable engaging member is carried disposed on a base member, and a stop surface is formed between two wall portions having different radii of curvatures in the concave portion. A movable engaging member is carried by the cover member also having two wall portions with different radii of curvatures and adapted to pivot within the concave base member. The wall portion of the engaging member having the larger radius of curvature is adapted to seat in the portion of the concave portion having the larger radius of curvature. An engagement surface on the engaging member formed between the two wall portions is adapted to engage the stop wall surface in the base member. A flange projects from the movable engaging member and contacts another stop surface on the base member to prevent the cover member from falling backward while the contact of the engagement surface and the stop surface prevents the cover member from falling forward.

Proceeding to a detailed description of the present invention and in particular to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 16: two identically the same novel hinge and stop structures generally 10 are shown in FIGURE 1 as for example in conjunction with a cast aluminum gastype, outdoor barbecue unit generally 11 composed of a cover member 12 and a base member 13, the barbecue unit being supported from the ground or floor by cylindrical pole 14. As the present invention is concerned only with the hinging of cover member 12 on base member 13, no further details of the barbecue unit are necessary. A concave bearing portion 17 is provided in base 13 by bracket 15 with one arcuate portion 18 of the bearing surface 17 having a larger radius of curvature than another second arcuate portion 19. Disposed between bearing surface portions 18 and 19 is a substantially straightwalled engagement surface 20 formed substantially transversely with respect to the adjacent surface portions 18 and 19. The second member of hinge 10 is movable engaging member 23 which is constructed and adapted for pivoting in but free removal from bearing surface 17. Member 23 is integrally molded to cover member 12 and comprises two convex surfaces 24 and 25 for pivotal accommodation within the confines of concave arcuate surface portions 18 and 19 of bearing surface 17. As shown particularly in FIGURE 3, arcuate convex surfaces 24 and 25 have a radius of curvature which will permit their seating in concave surfaces 18 and 19, respectively. In a manner similar to concave surface portions 18 and 19, convex surface portions 24 and 25 are also joined by a substantially straight-walled engagement surface 27 for abutment with engagement surface 20.

As best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, a flange member 30 is laterally carried by movable engaging member 23 to the outside of lateral wall 32 forming the housing for bearing surface 17 A flat-walled stop surface 31 on flange member contacts a stop surface 33 provided by the flat outer back wall surface of base member 13.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGURES 7 and 8, the hinge and stop structure generally like hinge and stop 10 is shown in conjunction with the same type of barbecue unit generally 41 having a cover member 42 and a base member 43. Similarly, hinge structure 40 has a twopart arcuate concave bearing surface 45 in base 43 with one portion 46 having a larger radius of curvature than the other second portion 47. A substantially straightwalled engagement surface 48 is also formed substantially transversely with respect to the adjacent surface portions 46 and 47, and a movable engaging member 50 which is integrally molded to cover 42 is constructed and adapted for pivotal but free removal from bearing surface 45. Engaging member 50 is provided with two arcuate convex surfaces 51 and 52 for pivotal accommodation within the arc defined by surface portions 46 and 47 of bearing surface 45. As described for convex surfaces 24 and 25 of hinge 10, convex surfaces 51 and 52 also have a radius of curvature adapted to permit seating in concave bearing surfaces 46 and 47, respectively. A substantially straight-walled engagement surface 54 is disposed between convex surfaces 51 and 52 for abutment with engagement surface 48.

The major difference between hinges 10 and 40 is in the provision of two laterally and oppositely disposed flange members 55 and 56 carried by movable engaging member 50 to the outside of lateral wall portions 53 and 59 forming the housing for bearing surface 45. The flatwalled stop surfaces 57 and 58 disposed on flange members 56 and 55, respectively, contact a stop surface as described at 33 for hinge 10 and likewise is provided by the flat outer back wall surface of base member 43. It will also be noted that in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8, only a single, centrally positioned hinge structure 40 is molded into cover and base members 42 and 43, respectively, with bearing portion 45 being supported by bracket 60 rather than the two hinge structures 10 spaced equidistantly from the centers of base 13 and cover 12 of unit 11.

A description of the operation of the previously described embodiments will aid in better understanding the advantages of the present invention. As both embodiments operate in the same general manner, it is only necessary to describe the hinge and stop structure 10 to fully appreciate the advantages of both. When barbecue unit 11 is not being used, it will be in the position shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 with the cover 12 in the closed position. To open cover 12 one will grasp a handle (not shown) on the front of cover 12 and raise same. With convex arcuate surface 24 of movable engaging member 23 resting on the lower part of bearing portion surface 19 and at the top of engagement wall 20, the engagement surface 27 of engaging member 23 will move downwardly and arcuately toward engagement surface 20. This movement will continue until surface 27 moves past engagement surface 20. When this occurs, convex surface 24 will drop downwardly into the larger concave bearing surface 18. This is best shown in FIGURE 3. Movement in the same direction will continue a short distance past the vertical center point of surface 17 and also cover 12 until stop surface 31 contacts stop surface 33 on the outside of wall 34. Further backward movement of cover member 12 is thus prevented and with convex surface 24 resting in concave bearing surface 18, cover member 12 cannot fall forward because engagement surface 27 will engage surface 20. To close cover 12 one merely lifts cover 12 a short distance upwardly for convex surface 24 to clear engagement surface 20 and to rest and pivot on concave surface 19 until cover 12 rests in a completely closed position on base 13.

It will be noted particularly with respect to FIGURE 3 that movable engagement member 23 is constructed and arranged with flange 30 and stop 31 as well as engagement surface 20 so that a small clearance is provided between surfaces 20 and 27 when stop surface 31 abuts against stop 33 on wall 34. This permits easy removal of cover 12 when it is in the partially closed position from the fully open position and the cover lifted upwardly, but such clearance is not essential if no lip is disposed on wall 34 above where stop surface 31 abuts wall 34. While convex surfaces 24, 25 and 51, 52 can have the same radii of curvature as concave surfaces 18, 19 and 46, 47 respectively, for matching relationship, it is not essential. All that is required is that sufiicient seating surface be provided when these surfaces are orientated. If desired, concave surfaces 19 and 47 and convex surfaces 25 and 52 can be substantially fiat rather than arcuate.

Barbecue units 11 and 41 with their respective convex engaging members 23 and 50 are integrally molded from cast aluminum. The same is true with respect to bases 13 and 43 and the respective concave bearing surfaces 17 and 45. Obviously, other metals such as iron and steel and alloys thereof can be employed. Neither is it necessary that engaging members 23 and 50, nor bearing surfaces 17 and 45 be integrally molded to the respective covers 12 and 42 and bases 13 and 43. They can be formed as separate units and fastened to the respective covers and bases. Nor is the positioning of the hinge structures 10 and 40 on the barbecue units critical. The use of one or more hinge structures and their positioning is determined by the size of the barbecue unit and the size of the hinges. A size of hinge structure which has been found to work well measures approximately 1% inches from the outside surface of flange 30, as shown in FIGURE 1, to opposite wall 44. A bearing housing for the bearing surfaces measuring inch as extending from the back wall 34 is preferred with flange 30 measuring /1 inch in length and inch in width. However, size is of no critical factor.

The engagement walls 20 and 48 have been shown as disposed approximately midway between the ends of concave surfaces 18 and 45. However, they can be formed in any position with corresponding adjustment being made for flanges 30 and 55, 56 in contacting the respective back Wall 34 and the outside back wall of base 43. Further, walls 20 and 48 can be formed in any plane which will form a stop surface.

It will thus be seen that there is now provided a novel hinge and stop structure which is freely engageable and has no parts which require manipulation for engagement or disengagement. The novel hinge structure is simple in design and thus can be manufactured without costly equipment. A hinge structure is provided which is sturdy and can be used over a long period of time without adjustment or replacement.

The foregoing invention can now be practiced by those skilled in the art. Such skilled persons will know that the invention is not necessarily restricted to the particular embodiments presented herein. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the terms of the following claims as given meaning by the preceding description.

I claim:

1. A hinge and stop structure for a base member and a cover member providing free removal of said cover member in substantially any position comprising a concave-like bearing portion in said base member, a first engagement surface mounted in the said concave-like bearing portion opening upwardly therefrom, a movable engaging member carried by said cover member with a convex arcuate surface adapted to pivot within said concave portion of said base member, portions on said engaging member adapted to seat on portions of said concave portion, a second engagement surface on said engaging member for engagement with said first engagement surface, at least one flange member carried by said movable engaging member for engagement with a stop surface carried by said base member, said hinge and stop structure constructed and arranged so that movement of the cover member is restricted in opposite directions in the open position by said second engagement surface engaging said first engaging member and said flange member engaging said stop surface.

2. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the surface of said movable engaging member is formed in two arcuate portions having a larger and a smaller radius of curvature for substantial matching relationship within said concave bearing portion of said base member correspondingly formed in two arcuate portions of larger and smaller radii of curvature.

3. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said first engagement surface is formed approximately equidistant between the ends of said concave portion.

4. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said concave bearing portion is formed in a bracket member carried by said base member.

5. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 4 wherein a single flange is carried by said movable engaging member to the outside of said bracket member.

6. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 4 wherein two oppositely disposed flanges are carried by said movable engaging member to the outside of said bracket member.

7. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said stop surface carried by said base member is the exterior wall surface of said base member.

8. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange and said stop surface are constructed and arranged to permit engagement by said flange when said cover member is moved to a past center backward position.

9. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 1 wherein two of said hinge and stop structures are formed in said base and cover member and spaced equidistantly from the centers of said base and cover members.

10. The hinge and stop structure as defined in claim 6 wherein one said hinge and stop structure is centrally positioned in said base and cover member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,590 7/1902 Stevenson et a1 16174 948,491 2/1910 Schaab et a1 22031 2,302,661 11/1942 Benson 16--178 2,546,590 3/ 1951 Ferrel. 2,732,581 1/1956 Heck 16-171 3,178,761 4/1965 Restaino 16--172 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

